Michelle Scott Tucker

Oh I hear you! Helm is just … brilliant.

Cover of a book called Helm by Sarah Hall.

Astonishing. Beautiful. And so, so moving. You think you know what good writing is then Sarah Hall comes along and … Blows. Your. Mind. #bookreview #amreading #Helm #BookSky

Yellow and orange nasturtiums in a small ceramic vase.

Today’s desk posy

That’s so kind! Thank you 🙏🏻

Thanks!

Cover of Spirit of the Crocodile, a novel for middle grade readers. Cover boasts two medals, for literary awards.

Wow, just wow. Spirit of the Crocodile has been listed as a 2026 Notable Book by the Children's Book Council Of Australia. From 181 entries in our category. Aaron Fa'Aoso & I are delighted, honoured & more than a little humbled that our happy little novel for middle grade readers has been included.

… doesn’t smell bad (unlike dog poo, which is foul). Been to a horse riding competition? The racetrack? Horses everywhere. Lots of poo. No bad smell.
21st century writers consistently get horses wrong in all sorts of ways and it drives me nuts.
3/3
#writingtips #BookSky #biography #horses

… how stinky those piles were. Um, nope. Historically inaccurate, my learned friend. Horses are herbivores. Unless the poo is very fresh, it smells like nothing much. Compost maybe. Even fresh horse poo …
2/3
#writingtips #BookSky #biography #horses

A writing tip from a writer who collects poo daily. An otherwise excellent history book biography described the collection of 18th century London’s horse manure, emphasising …
1/3
#writingtips #BookSky #biography #horses

Photo of six cherry tomatoes on a white bench. These are my 1st crop of the year. Yes, it’s very late in the season for a first crop. Yes, I’m a crap gardener. But though we’re only 70kms from Melbourne, we’re also 600m above sea level, so the growing season here is quite different.

Did you know ‘love apples’ was a 16th century name for tomatoes? A fun fact to amaze and entice your Valentine today. 🤣 ❤️🍎❤️

A floofy grey cat walks on a table, behind a vase of white hydrangea blooms.

Today’s desk posy (again with added cat)

Louisa Lawson's Statue | Michelle Scott Tucker Louisa Lawson’s statue is an important step forward in ensuring women occupy space – literally – in the public domain.

I recently visited Louisa Lawson's statue - and it was eye-opening in all the best ways. I wrote about it here... If you have thoughts, I'd love to hear them.
#australianwomenwriters #biography #louisalawson #BookSky

michellescotttucker.com/louisa-lawso...

Thanks Sally!

That’s such a lovely response, thank you. 🙏🏻

That’s so kind. It doesn’t always feel that way … 🤷‍♀️🤣

Big milestone approaching for the draft MS of my Louisa Lawson biography. Probs about 16,000 words to go before revising & cutting. Needs to go to publisher in Oct for publication next year.
Remind me again why I volunteered for this? 🤣🤣
#BookSky
#biography
#australianwomenwriters
#louisalawson

A dog sits next to a sign. The sign says ‘What is Dracula’s favourite dog? A bloodhound’.

Reasons why Blue likes visiting the vet.

Close up of Louisa Lawson's Miner's Right certificate, dated 1897-1898.

Today? I'm writing about how Louisa Lawson attempted to establish a mining company for women. Seriously - was there anything that woman didn't try?

Details about Louisa Lawson on my website - link in the bio.
#biography
#australianwomenwriters
#amwriting
#louisalawson

Love it so much. Although it was years before I realised their name wasn’t Aztec Hammer (thanks radio announcers 🤷‍♀️).

Spirit of the Crocodile, by Aaron Fa’Aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker. A novel for children set in the Torres Strait.

Today? Seems the right day to work on edits for the croc book’s new publisher … in the USA!!! That’s right kids, Spirit of the Crocodile will be published in the US in 2027 by Lerner (one of the US’s largest independent publishers of kids books). #middlegradefiction #booksky #FirstNationsBooks

Today’s desk posy. Am writing about Henry Lawson’s precipitous wedding. Which he didn’t tell his mother about until about a month afterwards 🙄
#biography #BookSky #LouisaLawson #AustralianWomenWriters

A blue banded bee seeking nectar from pink salvia blossoms.

First time I’ve seen a blue banded bee in my garden. Go well little one. Bring your friends.

It was a bright and frosty Plough Monday and the air was sweet with birdsong. The farmers, old and bark-worn, young and bright-eyed, from every farm and gainery around the village and the hamlet had paid their visits to Old Fox's cottage.
They bade Old Fox a solemn good morning & winked at Wolf,

Exactly! It’s just perfect. 😊

Love that attachment. Cuts through brush, blackberries and also wire fences. Ask me how I know 🤣🤣

The cover of a book called Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively.

Fell headfirst into this 1987 Booker Prize-winning novel and emerged gasping with wonder.
An enthralling story of a complex woman spiced with thought-provoking meditations on the nature of history, and history writing.

#amreadingfiction
#bookreview
#moontiger
#penelopelively
#BookSky

Cover of an 1894 book called ‘Short Stories on Prose and Verse’ by Henry Lawson. Published by L. Lawson.

Today? I’m writing about Henry Lawson’s first book.
Want to guess who published it in 1894? Yep, you’re right. His mother (printer, editor and journal proprietor) Louisa Lawson. Click on pic to see it full size #biography #australianwomenwriters #LouisaLawson #amwri̇ti̇ng #Booksky

Dear Bert’s Books. Australian reader & writer here, who spent a hot windy day hoping not to evacuate my rural home because of nearby bushfires. I don’t really know where Swindon is. But I love your account & I love reading your signs. From the rest of the world, thank you for daily small joys.

Thank you.

Thank you, really appreciate it. We’ll be ok 🤞